This study examined the relationship of actual versus needed parent participation and stress explained by social support. It was the goal to develop a better understanding of individual differences in parents having a handicapped child related to actual and needed parent participation in their child\u27s educational program. The subjects were 100 parents of children across various handicapping conditions from 2 to 25 years of age (M = 11.1) in Omaha, Nebraska. Twenty-eight fathers and 72 mothers completed the questionnaires. The majority of respondents were married (80%). The data collection procedures requested the completion of a Demographic Data Sheet, the Social Support Questionnaire Short-Revised (Sarason, et al., in press), the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress - Friedrich (Friedrich et al., 1983). Four hypotheses were stated: (1) parent\u27s indication of availability of and satisfaction with social support will predict parental stress; (2) parental stress, availability of and satisfaction with social support will predict actual parent participation; (3) parental stress, availability of and satisfaction with social support will predict needed parent participation; (4) there will be a difference between actual and needed parent participation. A full model multiple regression analyses and a t-test were chosen to to test the hypotheses. Results indicate that social support is a significant predictor of parental stress associated with having a handicapped child in a here-to-fore untested population (M = 11.1 years). Stress and social support neither predicted actual nor needed parent participation. A difference (22%) between actual participation and needed parent participation was found, providing empirical backup for unmet parent participation needs. Results were discussed in terms of similarities and differences with other studies. Original assumptions were reconsidered in light of the new findings. Implications for further research were suggested
